Aldosterone in acromegaly.

Ten patients with acromegaly, six with active acromegaly and four with inactive acromegaly were studied with regard to the possible relationship between aldosterone metabolism and hypertension. It was noted that tetrahydroaldosterone-3-glucuronide levels were highest in those cases which exhibited the highest prolactin levels. It was in these cases that hypertension was present and they were active as judged by clinical and biochemical parameters. On administration of bromocryptine there was a reduction of tetrahydroaldosterone-3-glucuronide, prolactin and also a significant reduction of blood pressure. The significance of these results is discussed.